From Our Family Farm to Yours

Therein Lies the Danger

When it comes to farming, there is always the potential for dangerous situations to arise. It surrounds daily tasks, but one of the most dangerous things a farmer can do is get into a grain bin. Arick Baker, of New Providence, IA, was buried alive in 2013 with 18 inches of corn above his head in an 80,000-bushel grain bin. He was certain he was going to die.

“My whole life I’ve been told that once you go down in a grain bin, you die,” Baker said. The ABC Show, In An Instant, detailed the miracle rescue that occurred on June 26, 2013, that ultimately saved Baker’s life.

September 17 to 23 is National Farm Safety and Health Week, and Beck's customer, Daryl Bridenbaugh believes that the ABC episode featuring Arick's story is a good reminder that farming incidents can happen to anyone. That’s why it’s important to take precautions while on the farm.

Southern Rust vs Common Rust: What You Need to Know

In 2016, many parts of southern Indiana experienced a bad outbreak of Southern Rust that caused yield loss in a lot of areas. Many farmers have seen an influx of this disease present in their fields again this year. However, there has also been a large presence of Common Rust in corn fields this year as well.

Check out this latest video to learn more about the visual differences between the two diseases and what you can expect in terms of long term effects and yield loss.

The Truth About Stink Bugs...

This is a vulnerable time during soybean development as we enter pod development so it's important to scout your fields for insect feeding. A recently shot this video while scouting soybean fields at Beck's Practical Farm Research (PFR)® site in London, OH for insect damage, specifically from stink bugs.

Watch it now to learn more about what to look for and what kind of injury you can expect.

Foliar Fungicide Applications

In this latest PFR report, I discuss the Fungicide Placement Study in OH where we are comparing the 360 UNDERCOVER vs Over the Top application of Headline AMP® at the VT growth stage. Are there coverage differences between the two applications? Will there be a difference in yield?

Managing Marestail

When it comes to growing double crop soybeans, one hurdle many growers face is weed control. One of the most challenging weeds to manage in a double crop soybean system is marestail. In fact, some biotypes of marestail have developed resistance to Group 2 (ALS) herbicides, which are the most commonly applied in wheat. If a population is resistant, the weeds will escape the herbicide application and thus, will be well-established at wheat harvest. The larger the weed, the more difficult it is for contact herbicides to have effective control.

Here's to the Farmer

Last week, I had the opportunity to help with Beck’s PFR University. For those of you that don’t know, PFR University is a unique opportunity for farmers to visit Beck’s headquarters and spend two days learning and gaining additional PFR insights on new products and practices that they can then implement on their own farms.

Summer Bass

When July and August get here, I turn my bass fishing into high gear. I am a born-and-bred topwater bass angler. Not many things give me the rush like seeing a huge bass attack a surface lure. So on August 1, I was lucky enough to be in a boat bass fishing with great friend Bryan Dralle from Coatsburg, IL.

Bryan and I are both just a little bit competitive, and I was certain there would be some sort of contest that day. We were both counting on a good topwater bite, but we disagreed on which surface to use. He chose a buzzbait and I went with the old reliable Jitterbug. The rules were easy; biggest bass wins.

Nelda Mitchell grew up on a dairy farm. As a girl, she milked cows twice a day, 365 days a year. “On leap year it's 366 days, and it’s rain, shine, sleet or snow. Ball game, party, whatever, you still had to milk cows.” She recalls.

BECK'S WHY I FARM ROADTRIP: Utah FARMER, Kyle Wilson

Kyle Wilson is proud to honor his family’s traditions and help write the next chapter of their history in agriculture on his southern Utah farm. Along with his wife, Shelley, and their three children, Kyle raises vegetable crops, including heirloom tomatoes, and small livestock

BECK'S WHY I FARM ROADTRIP: UTAH FARMERs, Kelby & Kathie Iverson

With their faith and family leading the way, Kelby and Kathie Iverson are building a legacy on their ranch in southern Utah. Both grew up with farming and ranching backgrounds, and are eager to raise their own six children with traditions of hard work and love of the land.

Investing in Others: Beck's Professional Development Workshop

“Keeping and maintaining relationships is one of the most important things you can do in your career.”

Those are the words of Beck’s CEO, Sonny Beck. After last week, I would say that everyone in the 2017 intern class had the opportunity to connect and create relationships at the Intern Professional Development Workshop.

BECK'S WHY I FARM ROADTRIP: Oregon FARMER, Gordon Culbertson

Gordon Culbertson of Springfield, Oregon has been involved in forestry since he was 12 years old. Although he’s retired from his full-time career, he still has a couple of tree farms and generously shares his expertise with friends and family.

BECK'S WHY I FARM ROADTRIP: Idaho FARMERs, Jay & Chyenne Smith

Growing up, Jay Smith was always told he could never ranch. Before they met, his wife, Chyenne got an art degree and started a construction company doing decorative concrete floors because it wasn’t possible to make a living riding horses. For years, people said ranching simply wasn’t in their cards.

BECK'S WHY I FARM ROADTRIP: Oklahoma FARMER, Aaron Base

At Oklahoma State University, Aaron Base had professors that told him he’d never be able to farm. His diversified farm outside Geary, Oklahoma is proving them wrong. Today, Aaron and his wife raise a variety of niche products, like grassfed beef and wine grapes, along with their two daughters just down the road from the family’s main farm.

Herbicide Damage

Dicamba drift has been a hot topic throughout the Midwest over the last few weeks as many farmers have been experiencing herbicide damage to their soybean fields. When evaluating your fields, it’s important to keep in mind that there are other herbicides on the market that may cause similar symptomology, leading to confusion.

BECK'S WHY I FARM ROADTRIP: Montana FARMERS, Harry & Ellen Allen

When she was just 19 years old, Ellen Allen’s father passed away. He left her Pocket Creek Ranch in southern Montana, and she was determined to carry on his legacy.

“Dad had such dreams for this place.” She says with a sentimental smile. “It wasn't really mom's cup of tea too much because she had been an Illinois farm girl and she loved fertile land. This place was a little dry and a little rough for her.”

BECK'S WHY I FARM ROADTRIP: MONTANA FARMER, Justin Hamilton

When he was a senior in high school, Justin Hamilton’s family moved to a new irrigated ranch near Columbus, Montana. His parents also owned the ACE Hardware store in town. Early in his career, Justin worked all day at the store and did ranch work at night.

Beck's Hybrids

Beck's Hybrids seed company provides high yield corn, soybeans, wheat and elite alfalfa. All seed products are protected by the Escalate™ yield enhancement system delivering higher yields, insect protection, improved stand, and seedling health. We give you access to every major supplier in the world, so you get the genetic diversity and trait protection you need from one company – Beck’s. A heritage built upon the hard work, faith and innovation of our family and family of employees.